Meeting Summary
Present: Stix, Weirick, Blatz, Francina, Haney
This summary was AI-generated to save you time. It may miss or misstate details, so verify against the official recording and the transcript.
At a glance
Tribute to City Treasurer Alan Raines
- The Mayor and Council members honored the late Treasurer for his service and recent Historic Preservation Lifetime Achievement Award.
- Remarks focused on his character and contributions to the community.
- No formal motion or vote was taken on this item.
Election of Mayor Pro Tem
- Council Member Weirich nominated Council Member Haney for the annual position.
- The nomination was seconded and approved via roll call vote.
Board and Committee Appointments
- Council members adjusted primary and alternate representatives for the EDC, Green Coalition, and Clean Power Alliance.
- A motion to approve these changes passed, excluding the OBGMA appointment.
- A subsequent motion to appoint Council Member Wyrick as the OBGMA lead failed.
City Council Redistricting Public Hearing
- Staff presented two draft maps (Plan A and Plan B) designed to meet California Fair Maps Act population deviation requirements.
- Council members requested a third option (Plan C) to preserve the Village Mixed Use zone as a cohesive community of interest.
- Staff was directed to develop Plan C for a future public hearing scheduled for February 8.
City Treasurer Vacancy
- Staff recommended a public appointment process rather than a special election to fill the vacancy within the 60-day legal window.
- The Council agreed to publish a notice of intent and return to the agenda on January 25 to select a candidate.
Ojai City Hall Campus Renovations
- Staff proposed using Oak Tree House for immediate office space and Little House for community events.
- A motion passed to allocate $25,000 for deferred maintenance and authorize an RFP for Little House design work.
- Additional discussions included stabilizing the landmarked barn and implementing stormwater capture systems.
City Council Updated Goals
- Staff presented a draft document outlining six goals for the upcoming year.
- The Council amended the goals to include a parking study, a review of the anti-formula business ordinance, and sustainable infrastructure options.
- The amended staff recommendation was adopted via roll call vote.
Council and Management Reports
- Updates included a Caltrans complete streets policy, a $300,000 street maintenance grant, and upcoming community conversations on police services.
- Staff confirmed the Drown Street traffic calming analysis is scheduled for the January 25 meeting.
Full summary
Call to Order and Pledge of Allegiance
- The meeting was called to order with a quorum present. A roll call was conducted, and the Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Approval of Agenda
- A motion was made and seconded to approve the agenda. The motion passed.
Moment of Silence and Tribute
- The Mayor addressed the passing of City Treasurer Alan Raines. Council members offered remarks regarding his service, character, and contributions to the community, including his recent receipt of the Historic Preservation Lifetime Achievement Award. No formal motion or vote was taken on this item.
Commission Reports
- No commission reports were presented.
Public Communications
- The public comment period was opened for items not on the agenda. Ron Solorzano, Regional Librarian for the Ojai Valley, provided an update stating that all Ventura County Library buildings, including the Ojai branch, closed to the public for three weeks starting January 5 as a precautionary measure against COVID-19. Walk-up service for holds, online services, and outdoor story times continued during the closure. No other public comments were received.
Consent Calendar
- Staff recommended removing Item 1G (written policy for Records Act requests) from the consent calendar to allow time to review public concerns. A motion was made and seconded to approve the consent calendar except for Item 1G. The motion passed.
Nomination and Election of Mayor Pro Tem
- Staff presented a report on the annual election of the Mayor Pro Tem. Council Member Weirich nominated Council Member Haney for the position. The nomination was seconded. A roll call vote was conducted, and the motion to elect Council Member Haney as Mayor Pro Tem passed.
Selection of Council Representatives to Local, County, and National Boards
- Staff presented a report listing current appointees to various boards. Council members discussed potential changes to the appointments for the Economic Development Collaborative (EDC), Ojai Valley Green Coalition, Clean Power Alliance, and Ojai Basin Groundwater Management Agency (OBGMA).
- EDC: Council Member Francina requested to serve as the primary representative, with Council Member Haney as the alternate. Council Member Weirich agreed to withdraw from the alternate position.
- Ojai Valley Green Coalition: Council Member Haney requested to serve as the primary representative, with Mayor Stix as the alternate. Council Member Francina agreed to withdraw from the primary position.
- Clean Power Alliance: Council Member Weirich requested to withdraw as the alternate, leaving Mayor Stix as the representative and Michelle Ellison as the alternate.
- OBGMA: Discussion regarding the OBGMA appointment involved Mayor Stix requesting to serve as the primary representative to honor tradition and address water reserve management philosophy, proposing Council Member Weirich as the alternate. Council Member Weirich argued for continuity based on his involvement in the Groundwater Sustainability Plan. Council Member Haney supported maintaining continuity.
- A motion was made to approve all appointments as discussed, excluding the OBGMA appointment, to be handled separately. The motion was seconded. A roll call vote was conducted, and the motion passed.
- Subsequently, a separate motion was made to appoint Council Member Wyrick as the lead representative and the Mayor as the alternate for the OBGMA for 2022. The motion was seconded. A roll call vote was conducted, and the motion failed.
Public Hearing: City Council Redistricting (Introduction of Draft Maps)
- A public hearing was held regarding the introduction of draft redistricting maps. Kay Mount Pleasure of Redistricting Partners presented two draft plans (Plan A and Plan B) designed to reduce population deviation to under 10% in compliance with the California Fair Maps Act. Plan A adjusted boundaries to move portions of District 1 into Districts 2 and 4, resulting in a 9.3% deviation. Plan B made minimal changes, primarily shifting the boundary between Districts 3 and 4, resulting in a 9.8% deviation.
- Council Member Weirich commented that both plans failed to maintain the Village Mixed Use (VMU) zone as a cohesive community of interest and requested a "Plan C" to keep the VMU area intact. Council Member Francina noted the physical size of District 4 relative to its population. Council Member Haney expressed concern regarding the clarity of the map graphics. No public comments were received. The Council directed staff to develop a third option (Plan C) attempting to maintain the VMU community of interest north of Ojai Avenue. It was noted that any new map must be published for seven days before adoption, with the next public hearing scheduled for February 8 and a final adoption deadline of April 17. No formal motion or vote was taken on the redistricting maps during this session.
City Treasurer Vacancy
- Staff presented options for filling the vacancy left by the passing of the current City Treasurer, noting a state law requirement to fill the position within 60 days (by February 21). Staff recommended an appointment process rather than a special election due to cost and timeline constraints. The proposed process involved publishing a notice of intent to fill the vacancy, accepting applications for two weeks, and holding interviews before making an appointment at the February 8 meeting. Council members discussed the timeline and the possibility of appointing an interim candidate immediately. Two names were suggested, but the group agreed to proceed with a public notice to ensure transparency. It was decided that no formal motion was necessary at this time; staff would publish the notice of intent, and the item would return to the agenda on January 25 for the council to select a candidate.
Ojai City Hall Campus (Oak Tree House and Little House)
- Staff presented a report on the future use of the vacant Oak Tree House and Little House buildings. The proposal outlined utilizing Oak Tree House for immediate office space and Little House for community meeting space, event space, and future office expansion. Staff recommended a Phase One budget of approximately $25,000 for basic maintenance and remediation to make Oak Tree House operational and authorized staff to issue an RFP for a designer to plan Little House renovations. Council members discussed additional ideas, including stabilizing the landmarked barn, implementing stormwater capture and water treatment systems, and creating a quiet/restorative room. A motion was made to allocate the $25,000 for deferred maintenance and authorize staff to proceed with design work, incorporating the additional evaluations discussed. The motion was seconded. A roll call vote was conducted, and the motion passed.
City Council Updated Goals
- Staff presented a draft document outlining six goals for the upcoming year. Public comment suggested adding a parking study to the infrastructure goals and creating a new goal regarding public transparency. Council discussion led to amendments: adding a parking study to the quality of life goal, adding a review of the anti-formula business ordinance, emphasizing pedestrian amenities in parking discussions, and clarifying infrastructure goals to include sustainable and innovative options such as electrifying city buildings. A motion was made to adopt the staff recommendation as amended. The motion was seconded. A roll call vote was conducted, and the motion passed.
Council Member Reports
- Council members reported on Caltrans adopting a complete streets policy, the receipt of a $300,000 grant for street maintenance, and a new Caltrans grant program for planning projects. The Mayor reminded the public of the upcoming Martin Luther King Jr. celebration. A council member inquired about the status of the Drown Street traffic calming analysis, which staff confirmed is scheduled for the January 25 meeting.
City Management Report
- Staff announced a joint virtual meeting with the Historic Preservation Commission scheduled for January 18. Additionally, the first community conversation regarding police services was announced for January 26 at the Bowl, featuring a presentation by the Police Chief and City Manager followed by public feedback. Regarding the affordable housing development agreement, staff confirmed the item is scheduled for the January 25 meeting.
Adjournment
- The meeting concluded with a check for any additional agenda items, which yielded none. The chair noted the meeting duration was two hours and 18 minutes. A motion to adjourn was made, seconded, and decided. The meeting was adjourned.